-FRM. FIRST LADY GETS OUT THE VOTE RM. FIRST LADY GETS OUT THE VOTE IN FL

-NATIONWIDE RALLIES TO GET OUT THE VOTE

-CELEBRITIES URGE AMERICANS TO VOTE

ANC INTRO

ALL OF THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE PRESIDENT COULD CULMINATE IN THE UPCOMING MID-TERM ELECTIONS.

The Democrats have launched a full-court press to get out the vote - with one of the most popular faces of the party leading the charge.

i24NEWS Senior National Correspondent Michael Shure has the story.

PKG SCRIPT

<<V/O; WITH FEWER THAN 4O DAYS UNTIL AN ELECTION THAT COULD GIVE DEMOCRATS CONTROL OF ONE OR BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE BARACK OBAMA WAS PRESIDENT IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT MICHELLE OBAMA IS NOW LEADING A NATIONWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE CALLED "WHEN WE ALL VOTE"

SOT: WHEN WE ALL VOTE PSA: (;39-:43) THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO REGISTER RIGHT NOW AND VOTE THIS NOVEMBER

SOT: MICHELLE OBAMA: (APPROX 9:20) IS THERE ANY WONDER WHY WE'RE SO FRUSTRATED AND TUNED OUT OF OUR POLITICS. WHEN A HUGE CHUNK OF THE POPULATION SITS OUT OF THE PROCESS.

V/O: AS PART OF HER EFFORT, AMERICA'S 44TH FIRST LADY MADE HER WAY TO THE BIENNALLY CONTENTIOUS STATE OF FLORIDA TO HELP URGE NON VOTERS TO REGISTER, AND REGISTERED VOTERS TO VOTE

SOT: OBAMA: (APPROX 5;45) WE'VE HAD MORE THAN 2000 GRASSROOTS EVENTS IN EVERYWHERE FROM HONOLULU TO BOISE TO RIGHT HERE IN MIAMI SO WE'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE.

V/O: THIS EVENT WAS HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. COMEDIAN KEEGAN MICHAEL KEY AMONG OTHERS, WAS THERE TO (HELP MRS. OBAMA) LEND A HAND

SOT: KEEGAN MICHAEL KEY: (2:34) WE WILL GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED TO REGISTER YOUR BROTHER AND YOUR SISTER AND YOUR TIA AND YOUR ABUELA. AND YOUR DAD AND YOUR TEACHERS AND YOUR MAIL MAN AND YOUR NEIGHBORS.

V/O: EDUCATOR CARLA HERNANDEZ MATS IS OPTIMISTIC THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE MORE MOTIVATED TO VOTE THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY IN HER STATE AND SHE GIVES CREDIT TO THE SURVIVORS OF THE PARKLAND SCHOOL SHOOTING

SOT: CARLA HERNANDEX MATS: (APPROX. 17:55) OVER THE SUMMER INSTEAD OF YOU KNOW HANGING OUT WITH THEIR FRIENDS WHAT WERE THEY DOING THEY WERE OUT RALLYING TELLING PEOPLE WE GOT TO REGISTER YOU TO VOTE.

V/O: A NUMBER OF MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS STUDENTS WHO SURVIVED THE FEBRUARY SHOOTING WERE THERE TO SEE THE FIRST LADY AND CONTINUE THEIR MESSAGE

SOT: DIEGO PFEIFFER: (APPROX. 13:40) I CAN CHANGE MY COMMUNITY I CAN CHANGE MY LIFE IF I GO OUT AND VOTE FOR THE RIGHT PERSON. IF I FIND THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY GO TOWARDS WHAT I WANT AND THAT'S WHAT'S CHANGED.

V/O; RAPPER FAT JOE CAME TO THE RALLY AND SHARED HIS MOTIVATION

SOT: FAT JOE: [00:21:14] BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE FEEL LIKE INDIVIDUALLY THEY CAN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. YOU HEARD MRS. OBAMA JUST SAY THAT SOME PRECINCTS ARE DECIDED BY FIVE VOTES, EIGHT VOTES. SO YOUR VOTE DOES MATTER.

V/O; IN 2016 FLORIDA RANKED ELEVENTH IN THE COUNTRY IN VOTER TURNOUT, WITH MORE DEMOCRATS AND MORE REPUBLICANS HAVING

VOTED, BUT THAT WAS A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR

SOT: OBAMA: (APPROX. 10:40) IN FACT IN THE LAST MIDTERM ELECTION IN 2014 WE SAW THE LOWEST PERCENTAGE OF AMERICANS TURN OUT SINCE WORLD WAR 2. IT WAS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO BELOW 37 PERCENT.

V/O: MRS. OBAMA REPEATEDLY STRESSED THAT THIS IS NON PARTISAN AND NOT ABOUT ANY ONE CONSTITUENCY,

SOT: OBAMA: (APPROX 8:00) I'M NOT HERE TO TELL ANYONE WHO TO VOTE FOR. I'M NOT STUMPING FOR ANY ONE CANDIDATE

V/O: ON THIS SHE SAYS SHE'S BEEN CONSISTENT

SOT: OBAMA: (APPROX 7:35) BUT HERE'S THE THING, MY HUSBAND IS NO LONGER ON THE BALLOT AND NEITHER AM I AND I'M STILL HERE.

V/O: MICHELLE OBAMA CAN STILL TURN OUT THE CROWDS, AND WE WILL SOON KNOW IF SHE HAS HELPED TO GET OUT THE VOTE

MS, I24 MIAMI, FL>>

______________________________________________________

092018SHURENCVOTERS.mp4

OC: “TO BE REDRAWN.”

TRT: 03 :51

CGS

STEVE GREENE/Political Science Professor, North Carolina State University

DALLAS WOODHOUSE/Executive Director, North Carolina Republican Party

ROBERT HOWARD/North Carolina Democratic Party Spokesman

NORTH CAROLINA LAWSUITS AGAINST REDISTRICTING

REDRAW BOUNDARIES TO FAVOR A POLITICAL PARTY

REDISTRICTING IMPACTS COMMUNITIES ACROSS U.S.

ANC INTRO

THERE ARE REDISTRICTING BATTLES IN STATES LIKE NORTH CAROLINA AND TEXAS.

(Note: Just after the anchor intro, we had Michael live to introduce the pkg himself. He was on assignment in San Antonio, Texas).

PKG SCRIPT

V/O: IN ANY ELECTION YEAR THERE IS NEVER A SHORTAGE OF ISSUES THAT DIVIDE, BUT ONE THAT IS LITERALLY DIVISIVE IS BEING TALKED ABOUT QUITE A BIT ON THE TRAIL THIS CAMPAIGN SEASON: REDISTRICTING.

Chyron: STEVEN GREENE, Professor of Political Science at North Carolina State University

SOT: STEVEN GREENE [00:00:47] WELL EVERY STATE IS DIVIDED INTO

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS. AND WHAT'S SOMEWHAT UNIQUE ABOUT AMERICA IS THAT THE POLITICAL PARTIES, THE PARTY IN CHARGE IN THAT STATE GETS TO DRAW THOSE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS

V/O: AND THAT'S CALLED GERRYMANDERING SO NAMED FOR MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR ELBRIDGE GERRY WHO IN 1812 RE-DREW A DISTRICT NEAR BOSTON IN THE SHAPE OF A SALAMANDER; THUS A GERRY-MANDER. INCREDIBLY, THOUGH THE PRONOUNCIATION HAS CHANGED OVER 206 YEARS, NORTH CAROLINA STATE PROFESSOR STEVEN GREENE SAYS IT STILL MATTERS IN 2018

SOT: GREENE: (PART 2) (00:11): BECAUSE REPUBLICANS CONTROL SO MANY STATES THEY WERE ABLE TO USE THEIR REDISTRICTING POWER TO GIVE THEMSELVES AN ADVANTAGE IN SO MANY STATES SUCH THAT ON A NATIONAL LEVEL FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO ACTUALLY TAKE A MAJORITY OF THE TWO HUNDRED EIGHTEEN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS THEY NEED TO DECISIVELY BEAT REPUBLICANS BY 5 OR 6 PERCENT.

V/O: 14 STATES NOW HAVE ALTERNATIVEP REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS. EVEN FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS PUSHING THE CAUSE THIS YEAR

SOT: OBAMA: (1:19-1:32) THAT'S WHY I SUPPORTED FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER IN STARTING THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE.

V/O; OBAMA SAYS IT'S URGENT

SOT: OBAMA: OF ALL THE POLITICIANS WHO WILL REDRAW OUR POLITICAL MAPS IN TWO YEARS, HALF WILL BE ELECTED THIS YEAR.

V/O: AND NOWHERE IS THAT CLEARER THAN IN NORTH CAROLINA

SOT GREENE (PART 2)(00:44): IN NORTH CAROLINA THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF LAWSUITS CHALLENGING THE BASIS OF THE REDISTRICTING. IN ONE CASE THE OLD DISTRICTS WERE THROWN OUT BECAUSE THEY WERE SEEN TO BE AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL RACIAL GERRYMANDER

V/O; THIS UPSETS A PRESIDENT HOPING TO HOLD ONTO A REPUBLICAN CONGRESS

SOT DONALD TRUMP (00:01-:08): I THINK IT'S UNFAIR WITH THIS WHOLE REDISTRICTING THING THEY'RE DOING IN NORTH CAROLINA (BOOS) HOW UNFAIR IS THAT?

Chyron: Dallas Woodhouse, Executive Director of the North Carolina Republican Party

SOT: DALLAS WOODHOUSE:(APPROX 10:20) WE'RE CRITICIZED FOR SAYING THAT YOU KNOW WE DREW DISTRICTS ON A PARTISAN BASIS. WE'RE HONEST ABOUT IT. IT'S THE WAY IT'S DONE

V/O; DALLAS WOODHOUSE IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR IN NORTH CAROLINA

SOT: WOODHOUSE:(APPROX 10:35) WHAT THE DEMOCRATS WANT IS THE COURTS TO RELIEVE THEM OF THEIR GEOGRAPHIC POLITICAL PROBLEM WHERE THEIR VOTERS ARE HIGHLY CONCENTRATED IN URBAN AREAS AND ARE NOT AS SPREAD OUT AS EVENLY AND AS EFFICIENTLY AS REPUBLICANS

V/O: IN AUGUST, THE 4TH CIRCUIT COURT RULED THAT THE DISTRICTS IN NORTH CAROLINA, ARE IN FACT UNCONSTITUTIONAL

SOT: ROBERT HOWARD: (14:04) THE COURTS FOUND THAT IT WASN'T JUST A FEW DISTRICTS THAT WERE DRAWN ON PARTISAN LINES IT WAS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.

V/O: ROB HOWARD IS SPOKESMAN FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA DEMOCRATS

Chyron: Robert Howard, North Carolina Democratic Party Spokesman

SOT: HOWARD: (11:25) FIRST REPUBLICANS DIVIDED US BASED ON RACE. THEY TARGETED AFRICAN-AMERICANS WITH SURGICAL LIKE PRECISION WHEN THAT WAS RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL. THEY SWITCHED TO GERRYMANDERING ON PARTISAN GROUNDS

PTC: WHILE NORTH CAROLINA DEMOCRATS HAVE TURNED TO THE COURTS TO RESOLVE THE MATTERS OF THESE DISTRICTS THAT THEY CLAIM HAVE BEEN DRAWN UNDER COVER OF NIGHT. THE GOP IN THIS STATE SEES IT IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY

SOT: WOODHOUSE (12:03): THAT PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING RULING WE'RE DEALING WITH OUT OF THE FOURTH CIRCUIT IS LUDICROUS

V/O: WOODHOUSE ULTIMATELY SEES THIS CASE LANDING IN WASHINGTON

SOT: WOODHOUSE: (APPROX. 12:45): I BELIEVE THE SUPREME COURT WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING ISSUE AND I BELIEVE THEY WILL FIND IT NON-JUDICIAL

Chyron: STEVEN GREENE, Professor of Political Science at North Carolina State University

SOT: GREENE (PART 2)(APPROX 3:30): YOU HAVE TO SAY THESE RULES OF THE GAME ARE SEVERELY FLAWED IN A NATION OR STATE YOU LIKE TO THINK OF AS A DEMOCRACY.

V/O; SO FOR NOW THE BATTLE LINES REMAIN DRAWN EVEN IF THE COURTS HAVE RULED THAT THE DISTRICT MAPS NEED TO BE RE-DRAWN

V/O: ONE PATH TO WINNING CONTROL OF THE U.S. HOUSE NEXT MONTH, PERHAPS SURPRISINGLY, GOES THROUGH NORTH CAROLINA

SOT: ROB HOWARD : [00:01:38] NORTH CAROLINA IS A PURPLE STATE. WE ARE ABOUT 50 PERCENT DEMOCRAT 50 PERCENT REPUBLICANS DEMOCRATS ACTUALLY OUTNUMBER THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED REPUBLICANS.

V/O: ROB HOWARD WORKS FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, BUT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES HERE, LIKE MARK HARRIS, HAVE THEIR HOPES AND PERHAPS THEIR TAILS TIED TO DONALD TRUMP

SOT: MARK HARRIS: [00:03:28] I THINK THIS PRESIDENT WITH HIS CHOICES OF SUPREME COURT JUSTICES HAS AGAIN KEPT THE PROMISES AND THE COMMITMENT THAT HE MADE TO PEOPLE. AND I THINK THAT'S BEEN A PART OF THE REPUBLICAN AGENDA RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ISSUES. SO I DON'T REALLY SEE THERE BEING A REAL PROBLEM IN MOVING HIS AGENDA FORWARD

V/O: APPEARING IN CHARLOTTE, TRUMP LENT HIS FUNDRAISING SKILLS TO GOP CANDIDATES RUNNING IN NORTH CAROLINA HOUSE RACES. DALLAS WOODHOUSE CHAIRS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HERE

SOT: DALLAS WOODHOUSE: [00:01:50 HE IS A GREAT MOTIVATING FACTOR TO OUR VOTERS. SO YOU KNOW WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO HAVE THE PRESIDENT HERE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

V/O: IN UNSEATING CONGRESSMAN ROBERT PITTENGER IN A SPRING PRIMARY HARRIS PRACTICALLY BET THE HOUSE THAT FALLING IN LINE WITH TRUMP WAS THE WAY TO GET INTO THE HOUSE

SOT: MARK HARRIS: [00:11:27] ARE SOME OF THE POLICIES THAT THE PRESIDENT IS PUSHING NOW? I'VE NOT FOUND ONE AT THIS POINT THAT I DISAGREE WITH. I BELIEVE HIS POLICIES ARE SPOT ON.

V/O; THESE RACES EVEN BROUGHT A SENATOR FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, NORTH. SEN TIM SCOTT SAID THAT IT’S URGENT TO STAY THE COURSE

SOT: SEN. TIM SCOTT : [00:00:34] IS A CRITICAL TIME IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE OF MOVING THE BALL IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THE ECONOMIC POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE VERY SUCCESSFUL. THE QUESTION IS CAN WE EXTEND THEM. AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS I HOPE WE CAN.

SOT: HARRIS: (APPROX 6:10) THE POLICIES THIS PRESIDENT HAS MOVED IN HIS AGENDA IS VERY MUCH POLICIES THAT I SUPPORT A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE TAX CUTS. I THINK IT'S BEEN A HUGE STIMULUS TO THIS ECONOMY

V/O: WHILE TARHEEL REPUBLICANS ARE EMBRACING DONALD TRUMP, SOME DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES LIKE LINDA COLEMAN RUNNING IN THE SECOND DISTRICT ARE IGNORING HIM.

V/O: THOUGH TRUMP DID BEAT HILLARY CLINTON BY 3.6 PERCENT IN THIS PURPLE STATE, DEMOCRATS FEEL THEY CAN BREAK THAT

SOT: COLEMAN: [00:03:13] PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO FOR THEM. THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW THEIR LIVES ARE GOING TO BE CHANGED BY YOUR REPRESENTING THEM. AND SO THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, JOBS.

V/O: COLEMAN’S BOOTS-ON-THE-GROUND CAMPAIGN IS WORKING TO CONVINCE SECOND DISTRICT VOTERS ONE VOTER AT A TIME

SOT: HOWARD: (APPROX 3:25) THE FACT THAT A DISTRICT LIKE THIS THAT IS MORE CONSERVATIVE WAS DRAWN SO THAT A REPUBLICAN COULD HOLD ON TO POWER IS NOW A TOSS UP AND IS NOW BEING HOTLY CONTESTED BY A STRONG DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW UNPOPULAR WASHINGTON IS IN NORTH CAROLINA.

V/O: AND WHO IS MORE POPULAR IN NORTH CAROLINA MAY DETERMINE WHO ENDS UP RUNNING WASHINGTON NEXT YEAR

THE MIDTERM ELECTION IN VIRGINIA'S 5TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT HAS TAKEN AN UGLY TURN.

IT'S A BIG DISTRICT THAT ENCOMPASSES CHARLOTTESVILLE, THE CITY THAT WAS OVERRUN BY WHITE SUPREMACISTS DURING THE "UNITE THE RIGHT" RALLY LAST YEAR.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS NOW ACCUSING THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE OF ANTI-SEMITISM.

OUR SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL SHURE HAS THIS REPORT.

PKG SCRIPT

V/O: VIRGINIA’S FIFTH DISTRICT, WHICH INCLUDES CHARLOTTESVILLE, HAS BEEN A FLASHPOINT OF NEWS OVER THE LAST YEAR. IT IS NOW HOST TO A COMPETITIVE, AND COLORFUL, RACE FOR AN OPEN SEAT IN CONGRESS

SOT: SIVA VAIDYANATHAN: (:50) THE FIFTH DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA IS A VERY ODD DISTRICT

V/O: AND THE ODDNESS ISN’T JUST ABOUT IT’S SHAPE. EVEN BIGFOOT, YES AN ALLEGEGATION OF A BIGFOOT EROTICA FETISH MADE BY DEMOCRAT LESLIE COCKBURN ABOUT REPUBLICAN DENVER RIGGLEMAN HAS BEEN FEATURED HERE

SOT: RIGGLEMAN (DIGG VIDEO)(2:43-:47): Y0U CAN BELIEVE IN ANY TYPE OF BIGFOOT THAT YOU WANT. I MEAN WHAT IS THE TRUE BIGFOOT?

V/O: UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PROFESSOR SIVA VAIDYANATHAN SAYS THERE IS MUCH MORE ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR THAN ONE CANDIDATE’S ALLEGED FICTIONAL FASCINATIONS

S/U: (20 SECONDS) IM WALKING JUST 600 FEET FROM WHERE HEATHER HEYER WAS KILLED IN 2017 AMIDST THE RACIAL VIOLENCE THAT HIT THIS CITY LAST SUMMER. AND NOW EVEN AS I STAND BEFORE CONGREAGATION BETH ISRAEL HERE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, ANTI SEMITISM IS STILL PART OF THE POLITICAL CONVERSATION.

SOT: VAIDYANATHAN: (5:45) THIS WAS A REALLY THREATENING EVENT IN MORE WAYS THAN THE OBVIOUS STREET VIOLENCE. THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THAT SYNAGOGUE..

V/O: THAT BACKDROP IS WHAT MAKES RECENT GOP ATTACKS ON A BOOK COCKBURN CO-WROTE WITH HER HUSBAND ANDREW IN THE EARLY NINETIES, DANGEROUS LIAISON, SO INTERESTING. THE BOOK, CRITICAL OF US-ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY HAS BEEN CHARACTERIZED BY COCKBURNS OPPONENTS AS ANTI SEMITIC. CHARGES DISMISSED BY UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PROFESSOR, MELVYN LEFFLER

SOT: PROF. MELVYN LEFFLER (0:39) THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT SHE'S ANTI-SEMITIC IN THE BOOK. THE BOOK IS RELENTLESSLY CRITICAL OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY AND ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY. BUT IT IS NOT AT ALL ANTI-SEMITIC.

V/O: YET THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF VIRGINIA HAS PUSHED THE NOTION THAT IN COCKBURN THE DEMOCRATS NOMINATED AN ANTI-SEMITE (USE GFX: VIRGINIA GOP)

SOT: LEFFLER: (1:55) IT'S EASY TO TRANSLATE CRITICISM OF FOREIGN POLICY INTO CRITICISM OF UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY AND ISRAELI FOREIGN POLICY. AND THEN I GUESS IT'S FOR SOME PEOPLE ONE THEN MAKES THE LEAP INTO THINKING THAT THERE IS ANTI-SEMITISM IN THE BOOK OF WHICH THERE IS NOT.

V/O: CHARLOTTESVILLE’S JEWISH COMMUNITY, THE LARGEST IN THE 5TH DISTRICT HAS BACKED COCKBURN, AND AFTER A WIDE RANGING DEBATE WITH RIGGLEMAN IN TINY WASHINGTON, VIRGINIA THIS MONTH, SHE WAS QUICK TO POINT THIS OUT

SOT: LESLIE COCKBURN: (4:55) RABBI DAN ALEXANDER HAS BEEN WITH CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS. HE'S A MIDDLE EAST SCHOLAR. HE REALLY KNOWS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT AND HE GIVES ME HIS FULL SUPPORT AND HE IS OUTRAGED BY WHAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF VIRGINIA HAS TRIED TO DO.

V/O: FOR HIS PART, RIGGLEMAN PENNED A JULY OP-ED FOR THE MARTINSVILLE BULLETIN IN WHICH HE CALLED NEO NAZI’S “CULTURAL PARASITES”

SOT: RIGGLEMAN (4:00) THIS WHOLE GUILT BY ASSOCIATION THING IS SORT OF TRICKLING THROUGHOUT VIRGINIA POLITICS. I THINK WE NEED TO CUT IT OFF NOW AND I THINK I'M PROBABLY THE GUY TO DO IT

V/O: MELVYN LEFFLER IS SKEPTICAL

SOT: LEFFLER: (2:55) IT'S SORT OF IRONIC THAT THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS WOULD RAISE THIS ISSUE AT THIS POINT OF TIME BECAUSE IF ANYTHING THEY ARE LINKED THEMSELVES WITH HAVING DIRECT OR INDIRECT ASSOCIATIONS WITH WHITE SUPREMACISTS.

SOT: VAIDYANATHAN: (7:30) WE HOPE EVERYONE ELSE IN THE 5TH DISTRICT. IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE RISE AND BOLDNESS OF WHITE SUPREMACY. BUT IF IT'S NOT YOU KNOW IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL.

V/O: WHAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IS WHETHER A CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION CAN PUT ‘BUSINESS AS USUAL” TO REST; IN A PLACE THAT HAS SEEN SO MUCH UN-REST.

WE ARE EXACTLY 3 WEEKS AWAY FROM THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS- THE REPUBLICANS ARE HOPING TO HOLD ON TO THE PARTY'S HOUSE MAJORITY.. AS DEMOCRATS TAKE A DOUBLE DIGIT LEAD IN THE LATEST POLLS.

IN TEXAS- IT WILL COME DOWN TO THE WIRE IN THE RACE FOR THE 23RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

OUR SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL SHURE IS IN TEXAS AND FILED THIS REPORT.

PKG SCRIPT

V/O: PERHAPS NO MEMBER OF CONGRESS HAS A MORE TENUOUS HOLD ON THEIR SEAT THAN TEXAS REPUBLICAN WILL HURD

SOT: REP. WILL HURD (3:40): MY DISTRICT IS THE ONLY 50/50 DISTRICT IN TEXAS. 50 PERCENT REPUBLICAN AND 50 PERCENT DEMOCRAT.

V/O: AND IN A YEAR LIKE 2018 WHERE EVEN TEXAS IS SEEING BLUE, HURD’S WORK IS ONCE AGAIN CUT OUT FOR HIM IN THE 23RD DISTRICT THAT STRETCHES FROM EL PASO TO SAN ANTONIO

SOT: HURD: I REPRESENT 29 COUNTIES WHICH ENCOMPASSES TWO TIME ZONES 820 MILES OF THE BORDER LARGER THAN 26 STATES ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF GEORGIA.

V/O; WE CAUGHT UP WITH THE CONGRESSMAN AS HE UNDERTOOK WHAT HE CALLS HIS DC2DQ TOUR; A VERY TEXAN WHISTELSTOP TOUR OF DAIRY QUEENS

SOT: HURD: I HIT AS MANY DAIRY QUEENS AS I CAN, I COME PLACESAT LOCAL RESTAURANTS OR A LIBRARY. BUT IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT AND TALK TO FOLKS HERE AND THE CONCERNS THEY'VE HAD.

MS: [00:02:41] DO YOU HAVE A BURGER AT EACH ONE BY THE WAY?

SOT: HURD: [00:02:43] I DO, WELL AT LUNCH. IF I AM HERE AT LUNCH I TRY TO GET A BELT BUSTER. BUT I HAVE I HAVE A BLIZZARD, A BLIZZARD MINI AT EACH ONE WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT I THINK IT'S FIVE BLIZZARD MINIS MAY EQUAL A LARGE

V/O (PTC?): THIS YEAR, REPUBLICANS ARE BRACING FOR WHAT MAY BE A POLITICAL BLIZZARD, AND MANY DEMOCRATS STARTED THEIR ELECTORAL MATH RIGHT HERE IN HURD’S DISTRICT

SOT: GILBERT GARCIA: (7;25) I MEAN THAT DISTRICT IS THE TRUEST SWING DISTRICT IN THE STATE, OVER 4 ELECTIONS CYCLES IN 2008 AND 2014 IT WENT BACK AND FORTH BETWEEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS

V/O: GILBERT GARCIA COVERS POLITICS FOR THE SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS.

SOT GARCIA (APPROX 7:55): BUT I THINK THAT WILL HURD IS JUST A UNIQUELY CHALLENGING OPPONENT.

V/O; AND THE OPPONENT WHO’S CHALLENGING HIM IS GINA ORTIZ JONES, A WOMAN RAISED HERE IN THIS DISTRICT

SOT: GINA ORTIZ JONES: (:10) SO WE ARE AT A RESTAURANT THAT IS LITERALLY MILES MAYBE A MILE AND A HALF AWAY. THIS IS AN AREA LOWER MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES. I WAS RAISED BY A SINGLE MOTHER, WENT TO MIDDLE SCHOOL RIGHT DOWN THE STREET.

V/O: ORTIZ-JONES IS A VETERAN OF THE AIR FORCE AND THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, AND AN OUT LESBIAN. ROBERT SALCIDO WHO RUNS THE PRIDE CENTER IN SAN ANTONIO SAYS THIS MATTERS

SOT: ROBERT SALCIDO: I THINK GINA IS DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB ABOUT BRINGING HER DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS TO THE FOREFRONT OF HER CAMPAIGN NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT ISSUES AS AN LGBTQ PERSON BUT ALSO ISSUES AS A VETERAN, ISSUES AS A WOMAN OF COLOR. YOU KNOW SO YOU KNOW BEING A FIRST GENERATION AMERICAN IMMIGRANT

V/O; THE DISTRICT IS 70% HISPANIC AND IMMIGRATION IS PERHAPS A BIGGER ISSUE HERE THAN ANYWHERE

SOT: ORTIZ-JONES: (11:55) BETWEEN CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS THATS FORTY FIVE PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY'S DREAMERS. THERE'S THIRTY FIVE HUNDRED IN THIS DISTRICT ALONE.

V/O: HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF HAVING TO REMAIN CLOSETED HELPED HER TO UNDERSTAND THE DREAMERS STRUGGLE

SOT: ORTIZ JONES: (APPROX 12:05) WHEN I WAS AN ROTC CADET AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY DON'T ASK DON'T TELL APPLIED TO ME . SO I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A YOUNG PERSON, HAVE WORKED HARD FOR SOMETHING AND LIVE IN FEAR THAT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES COULD BE RIPPED AWAY FROM YOU

SOT: GILBERT GARCIA: (7;25) I MEAN THAT DISTRICT IS THE TRUEST SWING DISTRICT IN THE STATE, OVER 4 ELECTIONS CYCLES IN 2008 AND 2014 IT WENT BACK AND FORTH BETWEEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS

V/O: GILBERT GARCIA COVERS POLITICS FOR THE SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS.

SOT GARCIA (APPROX 7:55): BUT I THINK THAT WILL HURD IS JUST A UNIQUELY CHALLENGING OPPONENT.

V/O; AND THE OPPONENT WHO’S CHALLENGING HIM IS GINA ORTIZ JONES, A WOMAN RAISED HERE IN THIS DISTRICT

SOT: GINA ORTIZ JONES: (:10) SO WE ARE AT A RESTAURANT THAT IS LITERALLY MILES MAYBE A MILE AND A HALF AWAY. THIS IS AN AREA LOWER MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES. I WAS RAISED BY A SINGLE MOTHER, WENT TO MIDDLE SCHOOL RIGHT DOWN THE STREET.

V/O: ORTIZ-JONES IS A VETERAN OF THE AIR FORCE AND THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, AND AN OUT LESBIAN. ROBERT SALCIDO WHO RUNS THE PRIDE CENTER IN SAN ANTONIO SAYS THIS MATTERS

SOT: ROBERT SALCIDO: I THINK GINA IS DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB ABOUT BRINGING HER DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS TO THE FOREFRONT OF HER CAMPAIGN NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT ISSUES AS AN LGBTQ PERSON BUT ALSO ISSUES AS A VETERAN, ISSUES AS A WOMAN OF COLOR. YOU KNOW SO YOU KNOW BEING A FIRST GENERATION AMERICAN IMMIGRANT

V/O; THE DISTRICT IS 70% HISPANIC AND IMMIGRATION IS PERHAPS A BIGGER ISSUE HERE THAN ANYWHERE

SOT: ORTIZ-JONES: (11:55) BETWEEN CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS THATS FORTY FIVE PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY'S DREAMERS. THERE'S THIRTY FIVE HUNDRED IN THIS DISTRICT ALONE.

V/O: HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF HAVING TO REMAIN CLOSETED HELPED HER TO UNDERSTAND THE DREAMERS STRUGGLE

SOT: ORTIZ JONES: (APPROX 12:05) WHEN I WAS AN ROTC CADET AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY DON'T ASK DON'T TELL APPLIED TO ME . SO I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A YOUNG PERSON, HAVE WORKED HARD FOR SOMETHING AND LIVE IN FEAR THAT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES COULD BE RIPPED AWAY FROM YOU

V/O; AND ON IMMIGRATION BOTH CANDIDATES OPPOSE A BORDER WALL

SOT: HURD: [00:01:14] PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE PARTS OF THE BORDER THAT BORDER PATROLS RESPONSE TIME IS MEASURED IN HOURS TO DAYS PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY MILE IS DIFFERENT FROM EVERY OTHER MILE AND THAT THE ONLY WAY TO SECURE THE BORDER IS BY FOCUSING ON ALL 2000 MILES

V/O: BUT ORTIZ JONES IS FOCUSED ON WHERE THE TWO DISAGREE

SOT: ORTIZ-JONES: [00:06:06] I SAY YOU GOT TO REMEMBER THAT HE VOTED 8 TIMES TO REPEAL THE ACA. THIS IS ABOUT HOW HIS VOTES AFFECT OUR EVERYDAY,

V/O: HEALTH CARE IS WHAT MAKES DEMOCRATS HOPEFUL ABOUT TAKING THIS SEAT. BUT IT’S COMPLICATED, EVEN SOME DEMOCRATS STRUGGLE WITH IT

SOT: SUSAN RODRIGUEZ: (APPROX 1:42) I DON'T AGREE WITH THE TAX CUTS, I DO AGREE WITH HIM ABOUT DACA AND BORDER SECURITY THOUGH. I THINK HE'S GOT VERY GOOD THINGS TO SAY ON THAT. I THINK HE'S VERY SMART AND HE CARES A LOT ABOUT THE UNITED STATES SO I'M VERY TORN

V/O: IF DEMOCRATS CAN’T PREVAIL HERE IT TURNS OUT THAT IN THIS HISTORICAL TEXAS DISTRICT IT MAY BE MORE ABOUT THE CONGRESSMAN THAN THE CHALLENGER

MS, I24 SAN ANTONIO TEXAS

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